Holding Texas’ 14th District Might Be Challenge for GOP

Former Rep. Nick Lampson outraised his Republican opponent in the third quarter and has about $422,000 in cash on hand in the race for Texas' 14th district.

What is not clear is what has been happening since the reports were filed on Sept. 30. Lampson’s burn rate since then is not apparent, and a spokeswoman for the Weber campaign said that their fundraising has “picked up in the last couple of weeks.”

The fear is not so much that Weber will flat lose the race, but that national Republican groups will have to spend money here to keep Weber in the game.

“I think it’s a problem for the [National Republican Congressional Committee] because it means they’ll have to spend money here and divert resources from races that are more competitive,” another Texas GOP strategist said.

Without a wave to give candidates such as Weber cover, Republicans are competing in safe Democratic seats and Democrats are competing in places such as Texas’ 14th. Lampson is the latest proof of the neutral environment political mantra: Candidates matter.